BT has given details of its plans to offer a free YouView set-top to new customers of its high end BT Infinity broadband service.
The £299 box is the same Humax box available at retail. As previously reported in Broadband TV News, plans to source from Pace have been put on hold as the manufacturer was unable to meet requests made by BT.
Once connected to a BT network the YouView receiver will be able to pull in on demand content from BT Vision – described in the telco’s statement as “the largest library of video on-demand on YouView” – rather than as a platform in its own right.
Outside of Infinity areas the offer is available to broadband customers taking a TV Essential package. Customers who already have Infinity can pick up YouView for £49.
The entry-level payment is an initial £18 per month. There is also a £49 activation charge.
YouView from BT will be available with all of BT’s TV and broadband packages and will launch on October 26. Customers can register in advance and will be given the opportunity to place their order between October 19 and 26.
BT is one of the chief backers of the hybrid DTT-broadband product, sitting alongside the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Arqiva and Talk Talk.
